Why we study black holes and neutron stars
Black holes and neutron stars are among the most fascinating and mysterious objects in the universe.
These cosmic phenomena form when massive stars reach the...
Planets can form in even the harshest conditions
According to the most widely held astronomical model (the Nebular Hypothesis), new stars are born from massive clouds of dust and gas (aka. a...
Could humans colonize mars in the next 100 years?
Mars has captured human imagination for centuries, with its reddish glow in the night sky and its status as Earth’s closest planetary neighbor. But...
How 3D printing is changing how we explore the universe
Space exploration is one of humanity's most ambitious ventures, but it comes with enormous challenges. Rockets and spacecraft must carry everything needed for the...
Is there a fifth force of nature
Could a new, fifth force of nature provide some answers to our biggest questions about dark matter and dark energy?
We’re working on it.
The Standard...
How reusable rockets are changing space travel
Space travel has always been expensive, partly because rockets were traditionally single-use. Imagine throwing away an airplane after every flight—it would make air travel...
Astronomers discover 44 ancient stars with cosmic magnifying glass
Astronomers have made an extraordinary discovery, spotting 44 stars in a distant galaxy called the "Dragon Arc," located 6.5 billion light-years away.
Using NASA's powerful...
Here’s how Pluto and Charon became a bizarre double planet
On July 14th, 2015, the New Horizons probe made history by accomplishing the first flyby of Pluto and its largest satellite, Charon.
The stunning images...
The lunar surface remelted, obscuring an easy answer to its true age
How old is the Moon?
Astronaut-gathered samples from the lunar surface put its age at about 4.35 billion years. However, other evidence suggests it’s much...
You’re made of carbon that took a journey into intergalactic space
I’ve used this fact a gazillion times; every atom in your body has been through the core of a star!
The carbon in our bones...